Colonial Times
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May 14, 1607 - The first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States is established at Jamestown, Virginia.
December 4, 1619 - The 1st Thanksgiving is celebrated.
May 9, 1689 - Britain declares war on France.
May 24, 1689 - English Parliament guarantees freedom of religion for Protestants.
July 25, 1689 - France declares war on Britain.
December 16, 1689 - English Parliament adopts a Bill of Rights.
February 28, 1704 - French/Indian forces destroy Deerfield, Massachusetts.
January 28, 1712 - American forces attack the Tuscarora Indians during the Tuscarora Indian War.
September 2, 1752 - Britain and the colonies under its control adopt the Gregorian calendar.
March 5, 1770 - British troops fire on a rock throwing crowd (known as "The Boston Massacre").
June 9, 1772 - The 1st naval Battle of the American Revolution off the coast of Rhode Island.
December 16, 1773 - The "Boston Tea Party" takes place as residents disguised as Indians throw crates of tea into Boston Harbor.
June 2, 1774 - Martial Law is declared in Massachusetts.
October 26, 1774 - The Minute Men are established in America.
The Revolutionary War
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April 19, 1775 - The Revolutionary War officially begins with the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
May 10, 1775 - American forces take the British fort at Ticonderoga, New York.
June 12, 1775 - 2nd naval Battle of the American Revolution takes place.
June 14, 1775 - The Continental Army is established by the Continental Congress.
June 15, 1775 - George Washington is appointed to Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army.
June 17, 1775 - British troops win the Battle of Breed's Hill.
August 22, 1775 - King George III officially declares a state of open rebellion in the American colonies.
November 28, 1775 - The Continental Navy is established by the Continental Congress.
December 22, 1775 - Esek Hopkins is appointed to Commodore of the Navy.
July 4, 1776 - The United States declares its Independence from Britain (by approving the Declaration of Independence).
September 6, 1776 - The first submarine, the Turtle, is used in Battle in New York Harbor.
December 25, 1776 - American forces cross the Delaware River and attack British forces at Trenton.
September 19, 1777 - American forces win the 1st Battle of Saratoga.
December 7, 1777 - The 2nd Battle of Saratoga begins.
December 17, 1777 - American forces win the 2nd Battle of Saratoga.
January 5, 1778 - Naval mines are used for the 1st time by the Continental Navy.
May 4, 1778 - The Continental Congress ratifies the Treaty of Alliance with France.
July 9, 1778 - The Continental Congress approves the Articles of Confederation.
February 5, 1778 - South Carolina is the 1st State to ratify the Articles of Confederation.
July 21, 1778 - North Carolina to ratify the Articles of Confederation.
July 22, 1778 - Pennsylvania to ratify the Articles of Confederation.
July 24, 1778 - Georgia to ratify the Articles of Confederation.
August 8, 1778 - New Hampshire to ratify the Articles of Confederation.
November 26, 1778 - New Jersey to ratify the Articles of Confederation.
May 5, 1779 - Delaware to ratify the Articles of Confederation.
January 30, 1781 - Maryland is the 13th State to ratify the Articles of Confederation.
October 19, 1781 - American/French forces win the Battle of Yorktown.
November 5, 1781 - John Hanson is elected the 1st President of the United States by the Continental Congress.
August 7, 1782 - Gen. George Washington creates the Order of the Purple Heart (for soldiers wounded in battle).
September 3, 1783 - The Treaty of Paris 1783 is signed by Britain and the United States, officially ending the Revolutionary War as
the United States is recognized as a sovereign nation.
The New Nation
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September 3, 1783 - The United States gains what is currently Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin,
and parts of Alabama, Georgia, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia as a result of the
Treaty of Paris 1783.
November 2, 1783 - The Continental Army is disbanded.
August 8, 1786 - The Continental Congress adopts the "Dollar" and decimal coinage.
February 21, 1787 - The Continental Congress adopts a resolution calling for a convention of state delegates to draw up a change to
the Articles of Confederation.
May 17, 1787 - Delegates begin meeting in Philadelphia to draw up a change to the Articles of Confederation.
May 25, 1787 - George Washington is elected President of the Philadelphia convention.
September 17, 1787 - The delegates at the Philadelphia convention approve the Constitution and sends it to the Continental
Congress.
September 28, 1787 - The Continental Congress sends the new Constitution to the states for ratification.
October 27, 1787 - The 1st of the Federalist Papers is published in a New York newspaper, calling for a Bill of Rights (written by
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay). December 7, 1787 - Delaware is the 1st state to ratify the Constitution.
Delaware, one of the thirteen colonies, gained its distinction as the "First State"
December 12, 1787 - Pennsylvania is the 2nd state to ratify the Constitution. In September 1787, the U.S. Constitution was signed in
Philadelphia and on December 12, 1787, Pennsylvania, one of the thirteen colonies, became the second state.
December 18, 1787 - New Jersey is the 3rd state to ratify the Constitution. New Jersey, one of the thirteen colonies, became the third
state on December 18, 1787
January 2, 1788 - Georgia is the 4th state to ratify the Constitution. Georgia, one of the thirteen colonies, ratified the U.S.
Constitution on January 2, 1788, becoming the fourth state to do so; it joined the Confederacy on January 19, 1861, and re-entered the
Union after the Civil War. January 9, 1788 - Connecticut is the 5th state to ratify the Constitution. Connecticut, one of the thirteen colonies, became the fifth
state on January 9, 1788.
February 6, 1788 - Massachusetts is the 6th state to ratify the Constitution. Originally part of the thirteen colonies, Massachusetts
became a state on February 6, 1788
April 28, 1788 - Maryland is the 7th state to ratify the Constitution. Maryland became the seventh state on April 28, 1788. During the
Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln placed Maryland under military control.
May 23, 1788 - South Carolina is the 8th state to ratify the Constitution. South Carolina, one of the thirteen colonies, became the
eighth state on May 23, 1788. On December 20, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede form the Union. It re- entered
after the Civil War.
June 21, 1788 - New Hampshire is the 9th state to ratify the Constitution. In a sense, New Hampshire, originally one of the thirteen
colonies, "created" the new nation by becoming the ninth state on June 21, 1788, meeting the requirement for nine states to ratify the
Constitution.
June 21, 1788 - The United States Constitution goes into effect now that the necessary 9 states have ratified it.
June 25, 1788 - Virginia is the 10th state admitted to the Union. Virginia one of the thirteen colonies, became the 10th state on June
25, 1788. Richmond became the capital of the Confederacy on May 29, 1861, but re-entered the Union after the war.
July 26, 1788 - New York is the 11th state admitted to the Union. On July 26, 1788, New York, one of the thirteen colonies, became
the 11th state.
April 1, 1789 - The United States House of Representatives holds its 1st full meeting in New York City.
April 21, 1789 - John Adams is sworn in as the 1st Vice President of the United States.
April 30, 1789 - George Washington is sworn in as the 1st President of the United States.
September 25, 1789 - The United States Congress adopts the Bill of Rights (containing the 1st 10 Amendments) and sends it to the
states to be ratified.
September 29, 1789 - The United States Army is established.
November 21, 1789 - North Carolina is the 12th state admitted to the Union. North Carolina, one of the thirteen colonies, became the
12th state on November 21, 1789. North Carolina troops suffered the greatest losses of all the states during the Civil War while
fighting for the Confederacy, re-entered the Union after the fighting ceased.
April 3, 1790 - The United States Coast Guard is established.
May 29, 1790 - Rhode Island is the 13th state admitted to the Union. Rhode Island was the last of the thirteen colonies to join the
Union on May 29, 1790.
December 21, 1790 - Samuel Slater opens the first textile factory in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
March 4, 1791 - Vermont is the 14th state admitted to the Union. Vermont became the first state added to the Union following the 13
colonies on March 1, 1791.
December 15, 1791 - The Bill of Rights (containing the 1st 10 Amendments) is ratified by 3/4ths of the states and becomes a part of
the U.S. Constitution.
February 20, 1792 - The United States Postal Service is established.
April 2, 1792 - The United States Mint is established.
May 8, 1792 - The United States Military Draft is established.
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June 1, 1792 - Kentucky is the 15th state admitted to the Union. Kentucky became the first state to be carved from the great western
wilderness on June 1, 1792. –
December 5, 1792 - George Washington was re-elected president of the United States; John Adams was re-elected vice president.
February 18, 1793 - The U.S. Supreme Court rules that a citizen of one state may sue a citizen of another state in Federal Court.
March 4, 1793 - George Washington is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1793 - John Adams is sworn in as Vice President for a 2nd term.
March 5, 1794 - The 11th Amendment is passed by Congress.
March 27, 1794 - The United States Navy is established.
May 8, 1794 - The United States Post Office is established.
June 1, 1796 - Tennessee is the 16th state admitted to the Union. Tennessee became a state on June 1, 1796. On June 8, 1861, it joined
the Confederacy and became a major battleground for the Civil War, re-entering the Union after war's end.
November 3, 1796 - John Adams was elected to be the second President of the United States.
December 7, 1796 - Electors chose John Adams to be the second president of the United States.
March 4, 1797 - John Adams is sworn in as the 2nd President of the United States.
March 4, 1797 - Thomas Jefferson is sworn in as the 2nd Vice President of the United States.
January 8, 1798 - The 11th Amendment is added to the Constitution.
July 11, 1798 - The United States Marine Corps is established.
May 7, 1800 - The Indiana Territory is organized.
May 7, 1800 - The Ohio Territory is organized.
December 12, 1800 - Washington, D.C. becomes the official capital of the United States. Residents of Washington were given the
right to vote for president and vice president with the ratification of the 23rd Amendment in 1961. But the District of Columbia does
not have statehood.
March 4, 1801 - Thomas Jefferson is sworn in as the 3rd President of the United States.
March 4, 1801 - Aaron Burr is sworn in as the 3rd Vice President of the United States.
March 1, 1803 - Ohio is the 17th state admitted to the Union. Ohio became the first state west of the Alleghenies on March 1, 1803.
April 30, 1803 - The United States purchases the Louisiana Territory for $15 million, containing what is now Arkansas, part of
Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, part of Minnesota, Missouri, part of Montana, part of North Dakota, part of Oklahoma, South Dakota, and
part of Wyoming.
December 12, 1803 - The 12th Amendment is passed by Congress.
May 17, 1804 - Louis & Clark begin their expedition of the Louisiana Territory.
September 25, 1804 - The 12th Amendment is added to the Constitution.
January 11, 1805 - The Michigan Territory is organized.
March 4, 1805 - Thomas Jefferson is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1805 - George Clinton is sworn in as 4th Vice President of the United States.
November 18, 1805 - Lewis and Clark reach the Pacific Ocean.
September 23, 1806 - Lewis and Clark return from exploring the Louisiana Territory.
February 3, 1809 - The Illinois Territory is organized.
March 4, 1809 - James Madison is sworn in as the 4th President of the United States.
March 4, 1809 - George Clinton is sworn in as Vice President for a 2nd term.
October 27, 1810 - The United States annexes what is now part of Alabama, part of Louisiana, and part of Mississippi.
April 30, 1812 - Louisiana is the 18th state admitted to the Union. Louisiana became the 18th state on April 30, 1812. It joined the
Confederacy on January 26, 1861 and re-entered the Union after the Civil War.
May 14, 1812 - The Mississippi Territory is organized.
June 4, 1812 - The Missouri Territory is organized.
War of 1812
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June 18, 1812 - United States declares war on Britain.
March 4, 1813 - James Madison is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1813 - Elbridge Gerry is sworn in as the 5th Vice President for a 2nd term.
August 24, 1814 - The British set fire to Washington, D.C.
September 20, 1814 - The "Star-Spangled Banner" becomes the official national Anthem.
December 24, 1814 - The United States and Britain sign the Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812.
January 8, 1815 - American forces win the Battle of New Orleans (they didn't know the war is over).
December 11, 1816 - Indiana is the 19th state admitted to the Union.
March 3, 1817 - The Alabama Territory is organized.
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March 4, 1817 - James Monroe is sworn in as the 5th President of the United States.
March 4, 1817 - Elbridge Gerry is sworn in as Vice President for a 2nd term.
December 10, 1817 - Mississippi is the 20th state admitted to the Union.
December 3, 1818 - Illinois is the 21st state admitted to the Union.
February 22, 1819 - The United States annexes Florida.
March 2, 1819 - The Arkansas Territory is organized.
December 14, 1819 - Alabama is the 22nd state admitted to the Union. Alabama entered the Union on December 14, 1819. In January
1861, Alabama seceded from the Union, and on February 4, delegates from six states met at Montgomery and formed the Confederate
States of America, with Montgomery as the capital. After the Civil War, Alabama re-entered the Union.
March 15, 1820 - Maine is the 23rd state admitted to the Union. Maine became the 23rd state on March 15, 1820. Its admission to the
Union balanced the simultaneous admission of Missouri as a slave state.
March 4, 1821 - James Monroe is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1821 - Daniel Tompkins is sworn in as the 6th Vice President of the United States.
August 10, 1821 - Missouri is the 24th state admitted to the Union. Missouri was admitted as a slave state on August 10, 1821, after
an agreement known as the Missouri Compromise in which Maine was admitted as a free state.
March 30, 1822 - The Florida Territory is organized.
March 4, 1825 - John Quincy Adams is sworn in as the 6th President of the United States.
March 4, 1825 - John Calhoun is sworn in as the 7th Vice President of the United States.
March 4, 1829 - Andrew Jackson is sworn in as the 7th President of the United States.
March 4, 1829 - John Calhoun is sworn in as Vice President for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1833 - Andrew Jackson is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1833 - Martin van Buren is sworn in as the 8th Vice President of the United States.
June 30, 1834 - The Indian Territory is established in what is now Oklahoma.
Apr 20. 1836 - The Wisconsin Territory is organized.
June 15, 1836 - Arkansas is the 25th state admitted to the Union. Despite opposition in Congress to a new slave state, Arkansas
became a state on June 15, 1836. Arkansas Governor Henry M. Rector seized Fort Smith and Arkansas joined the Confederacy in
1861 re-entering the Union at War's end.
March 4, 1837 - Martin van Buren is sworn in as the 8th President of the United States.
March 4, 1837 - Richard Johnson is sworn in as the 9th Vice President of the United States.
January 26, 1837 - Michigan is the 26th state admitted to the Union.
June 11, 1838 - The Iowa Territory is organized.
March 4, 1841 - William Harrison is sworn in as the 9th President of the United States.
March 4, 1841 - John Tyler is sworn in as the 10th Vice President of the United States.
April 6, 1841 - John Tyler is sworn in as the 10th President of the United States.
April 12, 1844 - The United States annexes what are now parts of Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas as a result
of the Adams-Onis Treaty with Spain.
March 3, 1845 - Florida is the 27th state admitted to the Union. Florida became a state on March 3, 1845, a move delayed by the
reluctance of Congress to admit another slave state, and it joined the Confederacy on January 10, 1861, re-entering the Union at war's
end.
March 4, 1845 - James Polk is sworn in as the 11th President of the United States.
April 4, 1845 - George Dallas is sworn in as the 11th Vice President of the United States.
December 29, 1845 - Texas is the 28th state admitted to the Union. After ten years of independence, Texas became a state on
December 29, 1845.
May 8, 1846 - The Mexican War begins with the Battle of Palo Alto.
May 13, 1846 - The United States declares war on Mexico.
August 22, 1846 - The United States annexes what is now Arizona and New Mexico.
December 28, 1846 - Iowa is the 29th state admitted to the Union. On December 28, 1846, Iowa became the first Free State in the old
Louisiana Territory.
September 14, 1847 - American forces take Mexico City.
February 2, 1848 - Mexico and the United States sign the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending the Mexican-American War.
February 2, 1848 - The United States gains what is now California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and
Wyoming as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
May 29, 1848 - Wisconsin is the 30th state admitted to the Union. According to the 1999-2000 Wisconsin Blue Book (published by
the State of Wisconsin), "on May 29, 1848, Wisconsin became the 30th state in the Union." (p. 630)
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August 14, 1848 - The United States annexes the Oregon Territory containing what is now Idaho, part of Montana, Oregon,
Washington, part of Wyoming.
March 3, 1849 - The Minnesota Territory is organized.
March 4, 1849 - Millard Fillmore is sworn in as the 12th Vice President of the United States.
March 5, 1849 - Zachary Taylor is sworn in as the 12th President of the United States.
December 6, 1849 - Harriet Tubman escapes from slavery on the "Underground Railroad".
May 30, 1850 - The Kansas Territory is organized.
May 30, 1850 - The Nebraska Territory is organized.
July 10, 1850 - Millard Fillmore is sworn in as the 13th President of the United States.
September 9, 1850 - California is the 31st state admitted to the Union. Congress hesitated to welcome a new free state, but because of
its booming population and the discovery of gold California was admitted in September 9, 1850.
September 9, 1850 - The Utah Territory is organized.
September 18, 1850 - The Fugitive Slave Act is passed by Congress, requiring the return of escaped slaves.
March 2, 1853 - The Washington Territory is organized.
March 2, 1853 - The Oregon Territory is organized.
March 4, 1853 - Franklin Pierce is sworn in as the 14th President of the United States.
March 4, 1853 - William King is sworn in as the 13th Vice President of the United States.
December 30, 1853 - The United States purchases what is now part of Arizona and New Mexico.
March 4, 1857 - James Buchanan is sworn in as the 15th President of the United States.
March 4, 1857 - John Breckinridge is sworn in as the 14th Vice President of the United States.
May 11, 1858 - Minnesota is the 32nd state admitted to the Union.
February 14, 1859 - Oregon is the 33rd state admitted to the Union.
December 20, 1860 - South Carolina is the 1st state to secede from the Union.
January 9, 1861 - Mississippi is the 2nd state to secede from the Union.
January 10, 1861 - Florida is the 3rd state to secede from the Union.
January 11, 1861 - Alabama is the 4th state to secede from the Union.
January 19, 1861 - Georgia is the 5th state to secede from the Union.
January 26, 1861 - Louisiana is the 6th state to secede from the Union.
January 29, 1861 - Kansas is the 34th state admitted to the Union. Kansas became a free state on January 29, 1861, after seven years
of bloody feuding between residents over whether to be admitted as a slave or free state.
February 4, 1861 - The Confederate States of America is formed.
February 4, 1861 - The Apache declare war on the United States.
February 13, 1861 - The 1st Congressional Medal is presented to Col. Bernard Irwin.
February 18, 1861 - Jefferson Davis is sworn in as the 1st President of the Confederate States of America
February 18, 1861 - Alexander Stevens is sworn in as the 1st Vice President of the Confederate States of America.
February 22, 1861 - The Nevada Territory is organized.
February 23, 1861 - Texas is the 7th state to secede from the Union.
February 28, 1861 - The Colorado Territory is organized.
March 2, 1861 - The Dakota Territory is organized.
March 4, 1861 - Abraham Lincoln is sworn in as the 16th President of the United States.
March 4, 1861 - Hannibal Hamlin is sworn in as the 15th Vice President of the United States.
March 11, 1861 - The Confederate Congress adopts their Constitution.
April 12, 1861 - Confederate forces begin an assault on Fort Sumter.
April 13, 1861 - After 34 hours of bombardment, Fort Sumter surrenders.
April 17, 1861 - Virginia is the 8th state to secede from the Union.
April 19, 1861 - Union blockade of Confederate ports is initiated (1st part of the Anaconda Plan).
April 27, 1861 - 48 counties in western Virginia secede to rejoin the Union (reducing Virginia's size to 42,326sq. miles).
May 6, 1861 - Arkansas is the 9th state to secede from the Union.
The Civil War
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May 6, 1861 - President Abraham Lincoln declares a state of insurrection in the southern states.
May 21, 1861 - North Carolina is the 10th state to secede from the Union.
May 21, 1861 - Richmond, VA. becomes the official capital city of the Confederate States.
June 8, 1861 - Tennessee is the 11th state to secede from the Union.
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July 21, 1861 - Confederate forces win the 1st Battle of Bull Run.
October 22, 1861 - The transcontinental telegraph is completed.
March 9, 1862 - The 1st ironclads, the Monitor and the Merrimack , meet at the Battle of the James River (resulting in a Union
victory).
April 7, 1862 - Union forces win the Battle of Shiloh.
April 14, 1862 - Union forces begin the Peninsula Campaign.
August 30, 1862 - Confederate forces win the 2nd Battle of Bull Run.
September 17, 1862 - Union forces win the Battle of Antietam.
September 22, 1862 - The Emancipation Proclamation is issued.
December 13, 1862 - Confederate forces win the Battle of Fredericksburg.
February 24, 1863 - The New Mexico Territory is organized.
February 24, 1863 - The Arizona Territory is organized.
May 4, 1863 - Confederate forces win the Battle of Chancellorsville.
June 20, 1863 - West Virginia is the 35th state admitted to the Union. On June 20, 1863, the wartime state of West Virginia was born
by acceptance of the federal government.
July 1, 1863 - The Battle of Gettysburg begins.
July 3, 1863 - Union forces win the Battle Gettysburg.
July 4, 1863 - Union forces capture Vicksburg, thereby taking the entire Mississippi River (2nd part of the Anaconda Plan).
November 25, 1863 - Union forces win the Battle of Chattanooga.
May 26, 1864 - The Idaho Territory is organized.
May 26, 1864 - The Montana Territory is organized.
September 1, 1864 - Union forces take Atlanta.
October 31, 1864 - Nevada is the 36th state admitted to the Union. On October 31, 1864, at the urging of President Abraham Lincoln,
Nevada became a state. Only a short four years earlier, it had been a wilderness.
November 16, 1864 - Union forces begin the "march to the sea", from Atlanta to Savannah.
February 1, 1865 - The 13th Amendment is passed by Congress.
March 4, 1865 - Abraham Lincoln is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1865 - Andrew Johnson is sworn in as the 16th Vice President of the United States.
March 21, 1865 - Union forces finish the "march to the sea" (by taking Savannah, Georgia).
April 2, 1865 - The fleeing Confederate government sets fire to Richmond.
April 3, 1865 - Union forces occupy the Confederate capital, Richmond (3rd part of the Anaconda Plan)
.April 9, 1865 - The Confederate States of America surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, ending the Civil War.
Reconstruction
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April 15, 1865 - Andrew Johnson is sworn in as the 17th President of the United States.
December 18, 1865 - The 13th Amendment is added to the Constitution. Jun 16, 1866 - The 14th Amendment is passed by
Congress.
July 24, 1866 - Tennessee is the 1st state to be readmitted to the Union.
March 1, 1867 - Nebraska is the 37th state admitted to the Union. President Andrew Johnson vetoed the Nebraska statehood bill of
1866, but Congress overrode his veto, and Nebraska became a state on March 1, 1867
March 30, 1867 - The United States purchases the Alaska Territory from Russia for $7.2 million.
August 28, 1867 - The U.S. annexes the Midway Islands.
January 7, 1868 - The Arkansas constitutional convention meets in Little Rock.
January 7, 1868 - The Mississippi constitutional convention meets in Jackson.
January 14, 1868 - The North Carolina constitutional convention meets in Raleigh.
January 14, 1868 - The South Carolina constitutional convention meets in Columbia.
February 24, 1868 - The U.S. House of Representatives impeaches President Andrew Johnson.
March 13, 1868 - The U.S. Senate begins its Impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson
April 14, 1868 - South Carolina adopts a new constitution.
April 16, 1868 - Louisiana adopts a new constitution.
May 26, 1868 - The U.S. Senate acquits President Andrew Johnson of all 11 Articles of Impeachment.
June 1, 1868 - The Texas constitutional convention meets in Austin.
June 22, 1868 - Arkansas is the 2nd state to be readmitted to the Union.
June 25, 1868 - Florida is the 3rd state to be readmitted to the Union.
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June 25, 1868 - Alabama is the 4th state to be readmitted to the Union.
June 25, 1868 - Louisiana is the 5th state to be readmitted to the Union.
June 25, 1868 - North Carolina is the 6th state to be readmitted to the Union.
June 25, 1868 - South Carolina is the 7th state to be readmitted to the Union.
July 23, 1868 - The 14th Amendment is added to the Constitution.
July 25, 1868 - The Wyoming Territory is organized.
December 25, 1868 - President Andrew Johnson issues an unconditional pardon to all those who participated in the southern
rebellion.
February 27, 1869 - The 15th Amendment is passed by Congress.
March 4, 1869 - Ulysses Grant is sworn in as the 18th President of the United States.
March 4, 1869 - Schuyler Colfax is sworn in as the 17th Vice President of the United States.
April 10, 1869 - The number of Supreme Court Justices is increased from 7 to 9.
May 10, 1869 - The Transcontinental Railroad is completed at Promontory Point, Utah.
November 17, 1869 - The Suez Canal opens for business, in Egypt, linking the Mediterranean and Red seas.
January 27, 1870 - Virginia is the 8th state to be readmitted to the Union.
February 23, 1870 - Mississippi is the 9th state to be readmitted to the Union.
March 30, 1870 - Texas is the 10th state to be readmitted to the Union.
March 30, 1870 - The 15th Amendment is added to the Constitution.
July 15, 1870 - Georgia is the 11th state to be readmitted to the Union.
Expansion
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August 1, 1870 - Colorado is the 38th state admitted to the Union. After three tries Colorado was made a state on August 1, 1876
March 4, 1873 - Ulysses Grant is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1873 - Henry Wilson is sworn in as the 18th Vice President of the United States.
March 4, 1877 - William Wheeler is sworn in as the 19th Vice President of the United States.
March 5, 1877 - Rutherford Hayes is sworn in as the 19th President of the United States.
March 4, 1881 - James Garfield is sworn in as the 20th President of the United States.
March 4, 1881 - Chester Arthur is sworn in as the 20th Vice President of the United States.
September 20, 1881 - Chester Arthur is sworn in as the 21st President of the United States
May 17, 1884 - The Alaska Territory is organized.
March 4, 1885 - Grover Cleveland is sworn in as the 22nd President of the United States.
March 4, 1885 - Thomas Hendricks is sworn in as the 21st Vice President of the United States.
March 4, 1889 - Benjamin Harrison is sworn in as the 23rd President of the United States.
March 4, 1889 - Levi Morton is sworn in as the 22nd Vice President of the United States.
November 2, 1889 - North Dakota is the 39th state admitted to the Union. Both North and South Dakota became states on November
2, 1889.
November 2, 1889 - South Dakota is the 40th state admitted to the Union. Both North and South Dakota became states on November
2, 1889.
November 8, 1889 - Montana is the 41st state admitted to the Union.
November 11, 1889 - Washington is the 42nd state admitted to the Union.
May 2, 1890 - The Oklahoma Territory is organized
. July 3, 1890 - Idaho is the 43rd state admitted to the Union. –
July 10, 1890 - Wyoming is the 44th state admitted to the Union. Although the Wyoming population was not enough to qualify for
statehood, it became one anyway on July 10, 1890.
March 4, 1893 - Grover Cleveland is sworn in as the 24th President of the United States.
March 4, 1893 - Adlai Stevenson is sworn in as the 23rd Vice President of the United States.
January 4, 1896 - Utah is the 45th state admitted to the Union.
March 4, 1897 - William McKinley is sworn in as the 25th President of the United States.
March 4, 1897 - Garret Hobart is sworn in as the 24th Vice President of the United States.
April 20, 1898 - The United States declares war on Spain.
May 1, 1898 - American forces win the Battle of Manila Bay.
July 1, 1898 - American forces win the Battle of Santiago.
July 7, 1898 - The United States annexes Hawaii.
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July 25, 1898 - American forces invade Puerto Rico.
August 12, 1898 - The United States and Spain sign an armistice, ending the Spanish-American War.
December 10, 1898 - The United States and Spain sign the Treaty of Paris 1898, officially ending the Spanish-American War.
The American Empire
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February 6, 1899 - The United States annexes Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico.
February 22, 1900 - The Hawaii Territory is organized.
March 4, 1901 - William McKinley is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1901 - Theodore Roosevelt is sworn in as the 25th Vice President of the United States.
September 14, 1901 - Theodore Roosevelt is sworn in as the 26th President of the United States.
March 4, 1905 - Theodore Roosevelt is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1905 - Charles Fairbanks is sworn in as the 26th Vice President of the United States.
January 16, 1907 - Oklahoma is the 46th state admitted to the Union. Oklahoma became a state on November 6, 1907, with a
population of 1,414,177, including residents in Indian Territory.
March 4, 1909 - William Taft is sworn in as the 27th President of the United States.
March 4, 1909 - James Sherman is sworn in as the 27th Vice President of the United State
July 12, 1909 - The 16th Amendment is passed by Congress.
January 6, 1912 - New Mexico is the 47th state admitted to the Union.
February 14, 1912 - Arizona is the 48th state admitted to the Union.
May 16, 1912 - The 17th Amendment is passed by Congress.
February 25, 1913 - The 16th Amendment is added to the Constitution.
March 4, 1913 - Woodrow Wilson is sworn in as the 28th President of the United States.
March 4, 1913 - Thomas Marshall is sworn in as the 28th Vice President of the United States.
April 8, 1913 - The 17th Amendment is added to the Constitution.
April 21, 1914 - American forces occupy Vera Cruz, Mexico.
June 28, 1914 - Princip assassinates Archduke Ferdinand of the Ottoman Empire.
July 18, 1914 - The United States Army Air Corps is established.
World War I
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July 28, 1914 - World War I begins as the Ottoman Empire declares war on Bosnia.
July 29, 1914 - Central forces bomb Belgrade, Belgium.
August 4, 1914 - Central forces invade Belgium.
August 4, 1914 - President Wilson issues a proclamation of neutrality.
August 15, 1914 - The Panama Canal opens for business.
August 25, 1914 - Central forces bomb Antwerp, Belgium.
August 25, 1914 - Central forces invade France.
August 30, 1914 - Central forces bomb Paris, France.
September 9, 1914 - Allied forces win the Battle of Marne.
December 24, 1914 - Central forces bomb Dover, England.
January 2, 1915 - Allied forces win the Battle of Sarikamis.
May 7, 1915 - British liner Lusiatnia is sunk by German U-Boats, killing 128 American passengers.
June 10, 1915 - The Girl Scouts is established.
July 29, 1915 - American forces invade Haiti.
February 21, 1916 - The Battle of Verdun begins.
March 9, 1916 - Pancho Villa raids Columbus, New Mexico.
March 15, 1916 - American forces drive Pancho Villa to Mexico.
June 15, 1916 - The Boy Scouts is established.
July 1, 1916 - The 1st Battle of Somme begins.
August 4, 1916 - The United States purchases the West Indies and the Virgin Islands for $25 million.
August 25, 1916 - The United States National Park Service is established.
September 3, 1916 - Allied forces win the Battle of Verdun.
November 18, 1916 - Allied forces win the 1st Battle of Somme.
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January 31, 1917 - Germany declared unrestricted submarine warfare against all ships.
March 2, 1917 - Puerto Rico is made a United States territory.
March 4, 1917 - Calvin Coolidge is sworn in as the 29th Vice President of the United States.
March 5, 1917 - Woodrow Wilson is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.
April 6, 1917 - The United States enters World War I on the side of the Allies.
August 5, 1917 - The United States National Guard is established.
December 17, 1917 - The 18th Amendment is passed by Congress.
March 3, 1918 - Russia pulls out of World War I.
July 15, 1918 - The 2nd Battle of the Marne begins.
July 18, 1918 - Allied forces win the Battle of the Aisne-Marne.
September 12, 1918 - The 2nd Battle of Verdun begins.
September 26, 1918 - The Battle of Miuse-Argonne begins.
September 29, 1918 - Allied forces push Central forces past the Hindenburg Line.
November 11, 1918 - The Allied and Central Powers sign an armistice, ending World War I.
January 29, 1919 - The 18th Amendment is added to the Constitution.
June 28, 1919 - The Treaty of Versailles is signed, ending World War I.
The Roaring 20's
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June 5, 1919 - The 19th Amendment is passed by Congress.
August 26, 1920 - The 19th Amendment is added to the Constitution.
March 4, 1921 - Warren Harding is sworn in as the 29th President of the United States.
March 4, 1921 - Charles Dawes is sworn in as the 30th Vice President of the United States.
August 3, 1923 - Calvin Coolidge is sworn in as the 30th President of the United States.
March 4, 1925 - Calvin Coolidge is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1925 - Charles Curtis is sworn in as the 31st Vice President of the United States.
March 4, 1929 - Herbert Hoover is sworn in as the 31st President of the United States.
March 4, 1929 - John Garner is sworn in as the 32nd Vice President of the United States.
The Great Depression
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October 29, 1929 - The New York Stock Market crashes to an all time low (referred to as "Black Tuesday"), signaling the start of the
Great Depression.
March 2, 1932 - The 20th Amendment is passed by Congress.
January 23, 1933 - The 20th Amendment is added to the Constitution.
February 20, 1933 - The 21st Amendment is passed by Congress.
March 4, 1933 - Franklin Roosevelt is sworn in as the 32nd President of the United States.
March 4, 1933 - Henry Wallace is sworn in as the 33rd Vice President of the United States.
December 5, 1933 - The 21st Amendment is added to the Constitution.
March 7, 1936 - Germany invades the Rhineland (Austria).
January 20, 1937 - Franklin Roosevelt is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.
January 20, 1937 - Henry Wallace is sworn in as Vice President for a 2nd term.
September 1, 1939 - Germany invades Poland.
World War II
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September 4, 1939 - France and Great Britain declare war on Germany.
September 28, 1939 - Germany and the Soviet Union sign the Warsaw pact, keeping the Soviet Union out of World War II.
June 4, 1940 - The British evacuate over 300,000 soldiers from Dunkirk, France back across the English Channel.
June 22, 1940 - France surrenders to Germany.
October 16, 1940 - Benjamin Davis becomes the first black General in the United States Army.
January 20, 1941 - Franklin Roosevelt is sworn in as President for a 3rd term.
January 20, 1941 - Henry Wallace is sworn in as Vice President for a 3rd term.
June 22, 1941 - Germany invades the Soviet Union.
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December 7, 1941 - Japanese forces attack the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
December 8, 1941 - The United States declares war on Japan.
December 11, 1941 - Germany and Italy declare war on the United States.
May 15, 1942 - Women are now allowed to serve in all branches of the armed services.
August 7, 1942 - United States Marines land at Guadalcanal.
February 2, 1943 - 200,000 German soldiers surrender at Stalingrad.
November 28, 1943 - Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin meet in Tehran to discuss WWII.
June 6, 1944 - Allied forces invade Normandy (referred to as "D-Day").
August 25, 1944 - Allied troops liberate Paris.
December 16, 1944 - A German surprise attack begins the Battle of the Bulge.
December 24, 1944 - Allied forces push the German troops past the German border.
January 12, 1945 - American forces liberate the Philippines.
January 20, 1945 - Franklin Roosevelt is sworn in as President for a 4th term.
January 20, 1945 - Harry Truman is sworn in as the 34th Vice President of the United States.
April 12, 1945 - Harry Truman is sworn in as the 33rd President of the United States.
June 26, 1945 - The United Nations is established.
July 12, 1945 - American forces take Okinawa.
August 6, 1945 - The United States drops the 1st atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
August 9, 1945 - The United States drops the 2nd atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan.
September 2, 1945 - Japan unconditionally surrenders to the United States, ending World War II.
THE MODERN ERA
The Cold War
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July 4, 1946 - The Philippines, a United States protectorate, gains its independence.
October 1, 1946 - Nazi war criminals receive sentencing at the Nuremberg trials.
October 17, 1946 - Winston Churchill proclaims "an iron curtain has swept across the continent (Europe)," beginning the Cold War.
March 24, 1947 - The 22nd Amendment is passed by Congress.
January 20, 1949 - Harry Truman is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.
January 20, 1949 - Alben Barkley is sworn in as the 35th Vice President of the United States.
April 4, 1949 - North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is established by Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Great Britain,
Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and the United States.
The Korean War
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June 25, 1950 - The Korean War officially starts as North Korea invades South Korea.
June 26, 1950 - North Korean forces take Seoul.
June 27, 1950 - The United Nations declares war on North Korea.
September 15, 1950 - U.N. forces take Inchon.
October 7, 1950 - U.N. forces recapture Seoul.
January 4, 1951 - North Korean/Chinese forces recapture Seoul.
February 26, 1951 - The 22nd Amendment is added to the Constitution.
November 1, 1952 - The United States detonates the 1st thermonuclear device.
January 20, 1953 - Dwight Eisenhower is sworn in as the 34th President of the United States.
January 20, 1953 - Richard Nixon is sworn in as the 36th Vice President of the United States.
May 17, 1954 - The U.S. Supreme Court declares that segregated schools violate the 14th Amendment.
January 20, 1957 - Richard Nixon is sworn in as Vice President for a 2nd term.
January 21, 1957 - Dwight Eisenhower is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.
January 3, 1959 - Alaska is the 49th state admitted to the Union. Alaska became the 49th state on January 3, 1959; it was the first
new state in the Union since 1912.
August 21, 1959 - Hawaii is the 50th state admitted to the Union.
June 16, 1960 - The 23rd Amendment is passed by Congress.
January 20, 1961 - John Kennedy is sworn in as the 35th President of the United States.
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January 20, 1961 - Lyndon Johnson is sworn in as the 37th Vice President of the United States.
March 29, 1961 - The 23rd Amendment is added to the Constitution.
April 17, 1961 - An American backed Cuban invasion force landed at Bahia de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs).
August 27, 1962 - The 24th Amendment is passed by Congress
October 14, 1962 - American spy planes spot Soviet missile bases on Cuba.
October 22, 1962 - The Soviet Union pulls its missiles out of Cuba.
The Vietnam War
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November 1, 1963 - American/Vietnamese forces stage a coup in Vietnam.
November 22, 1963 - Lyndon Johnson is sworn in as the 36th President of the United States.
January 30, 1964 - The 24th Amendment is added to the Constitution.
July 2, 1964 - Segregation is now abolished in the United States.
August 4, 1964 - Vietnamese forces attack an American Destroyer (USS Maddox).
August 7, 1964 - The United States begins military presence in Vietnam.
January 20, 1965 - Lyndon Johnson is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.
January 20, 1965 - Hubert Humphrey is sworn in as the 38th Vice President of the United States.
July 6, 1965 - The 25th Amendment is passed by Congress.
February 10, 1967 - The 25th Amendment is added to the Constitution.
March 16, 1968 - American forces take My Lai.
January 20, 1969 - Richard Nixon is sworn in as the 37th President of the United States.
January 20, 1969 - Spiro Agney is sworn in as the 39th Vice President of the United States.
July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong is the 1st human to walk on the Moon.
April 30, 1970 - American forces invade Cambodia.
December 31, 1970 - The United States begins withdrawing troops from Vietnam.
March 3, 1971 - The 26th Amendment is passed by Congress.
June 30, 1971 - The 26th Amendment is added to the Constitution.
December 18, 1972 - American forces begin bombing Hanoi and Haiphong.
December 28, 1972 - American forces cease bombing Hanoi and Haiphong.
January 20, 1973 - Richard Nixon is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.
January 20, 1973 - Spiro Agney is sworn in as Vice President for a 2nd term.
January 27, 1973 - The United States and Vietnam sign a peace treaty, ending the Vietnam War.
March 29, 1973 - The last of American forces leave Vietnam.
December 6, 1973 - Gerald Ford is sworn in as the 40th Vice President of the United States.
August 9, 1974 - Gerald Ford is sworn in as the 38th President of the United States.
December 19, 1974 - Nelson Rockefeller is sworn in as the 41st Vice President of the United States.
January 20, 1977 - Jimmy Carter is sworn in as the 39th President of the United States.
January 20, 1977 - Walter Mondale is sworn in as the 42nd Vice President of the United States.
November 4, 1979 - Iranians seize the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran taking 52 people hostage.
January 20, 1981 - Ronald Reagan is sworn in as the 40th President of the United States.
January 20, 1981 - George Bush is sworn in as the 43rd Vice President of the United States.
January 20, 1981 - The hostages from the American Embassy are freed.
December 30, 1981 - I was born (well, I am the Author!).
March 23, 1983 - President Reagan starts the Strategic Defense Initiative.
January 20, 1985 - George Bush is sworn in as Vice President for a 2nd term.
January 21, 1985 - Ronald Reagan is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.
January 20, 1989 - George Bush is sworn in as the 41st President of the United States.
January 20, 1989 - Dan Quake is sworn in as the 44th Vice President of the United States.
The Persian Gulf War
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August 2, 1990 - Iraqi forces invade Kuwait.
January 16, 1991 - A U.N. air strike is launched on Iraq.
February 23, 1991 - A U.N. ground force liberates Kuwait.
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February 28, 1991 - A cease fire is signed between the United Nations and Iraq.
February 1, 1992 - The United States and Russia sign a treaty officially ending the Cold War.
May 7, 1992 - The 27th Amendment is added to the Constitution.
January 20, 1993 - Al Gore is sworn in as the 45th Vice President of the United States
January 21, 1993 - Bill Clinton is sworn in as the 42nd President of the United States.
January 20, 1997 - Al Gore is sworn in as Vice President for a 2nd term.
January 21, 1997 - Bill Clinton is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.
August 7, 1998 - 2 American embassies (Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya) in eastern Africa are destroyed by terrorist
bombs.
August 20, 1998 - American forces launch air strikes at 2 targets in retaliation for the American embassy bombings: a terrorist
training facility in Afghanistan, and a chemical plant in Sudan.
December 16, 1998 - American forces launch the 1st of 3 air strikes at targets in Iraq.
December 17, 1998 - American forces launch the 2nd of 3 air strikes at targets in Iraq.
December 18, 1998 - American forces launch the 3rd of 3 air strikes at targets in Iraq.
December 19, 1998 - The U.S. House of Representatives approves 2 of 4 Proposed Articles of Impeachment.
March 23, 1999 - NATO begins launching air strikes against Yugoslavia.
December 31, 1999 - Panama gains control of the Panama Canal from the United States.